Is “Actually Romantic” About Charli XCX?

Is “Actually Romantic” about Charli XCX?

“Actually Romantic” is likely a Charli XCX diss track. As soon as Taylor Swift announced her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, many fans began speculating that the track “Actually Romantic” would be about singer Charli XCX—and it seems like they were right. The lyrics address a singer who is so obsessed with Swift that Swift cheekily implies their feelings are actually romantic. The song is likely a response to Charli XCX’s song “Sympathy Is a Knife,” which is theorized to be about Taylor Swift. Swift includes lines like “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave,” and “Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face,” which allude to Charli XCX’s party girl persona and “Sympathy is a Knife.” Charli XCX also has a song titled “Everything Is Romantic,” so the title “Actually Romantic” is likely a callback. Gabriella 'Gabbriette' Bechtel, friend of Charli XCX and fiancée of Swift’s former boyfriend Matty Healy, also commented on a parody video of Taylor Swift’s songs, saying, “Babe, record ‘Actually Romantic,’ please.” The video has since been deleted. Charli is also married to George Daniel, one of Matty Healy’s The 1975 band members.

Swift has said it’s about a “one-sided, adversarial” relationship. When explaining the song on Amazon Music, Swift said it’s “a song about realizing that someone else has kind of had a one-sided, adversarial relationship with you that you didn’t know about. And all of a sudden they start doing too much, and they start letting you know that actually, you’ve been living in their head rent-free and you had no idea.” She continued, “It’s presenting itself as them sort of resenting you or having a problem with you, but you take that and just accept it as love, and you accept it as attention and affection, and how flattering that somebody has made you such a big part of their reality when you didn’t even think about this. It’s actually pretty romantic if you really think about it.” Swift did not specifically mention who the song is about, however.

“Actually Romantic” Lyric Analysis

Swift calls out a singer who’s been talking behind her back. Swift opens the song with the lyrics, “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave / High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me / Wrote me a song sayin’ it makes you sick to see my face.” Fans speculate this is about Charli XCX because she’s known for being a party girl, is married to the bandmate of Swift’s ex Matty Healy, and wrote the song “Sympathy Is a Knife,” which people speculate is about Swift.

She thinks the attention is “actually romantic.” In the chorus, Swift sings, “But it’s actually sweet / All the time you’ve spent on me / It’s honestly wild / All the effort you’ve put in / It’s actually romantic / I really gotta hand it to you / No man has ever loved me like you do.” Here, Swift cheekily implies that her hater is so obsessed because they actually have a crush on her. They’re more obsessed with her than her actual romantic partners.

Swift isn’t hurt by the person’s behavior. In verse 2, Swift says, “Hadn’t thought of you in a long time / But you keep sending me funny valentines / And I know you think it comes off vicious / But it’s precious, adorable / Like a toy chihuahua barking at me from a tiny purse.” Swift, used to criticism, isn’t fazed by the person’s insults. She implies that the hater thinks their insults are clever, but Swift really just thinks they’re pathetic. Swift ends the verse with the lyrics, “How many times has your boyfriend said, ‘Why are we always talkin’ ‘bout her?’” This is likely a reference to “Sympathy Is a Knife,” when Charli XCX writes, “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back / I hope they break up quick” and “One voice tells me that they laugh / George says I’m just paranoid.” George is Charli’s husband and Matty Healy’s bandmate.

Swift implies that she enjoys hearing what the person has to say about her. In the bridge, Swift sings, “You think I’m tacky, baby / Stop talking dirty to me / It sounded nasty, but it / Feels like you’re flirting with me / I mind my business, God’s my witness that I don’t provoke it / It’s kind of making me wet.” The sexual lyrics here further emphasize that the other person’s obsession seems like a crush. Swift doesn’t believe she’s done anything to provoke these feelings, but she enjoys the attention.

Taylor Swift and Charli XCX's History & Feud

Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have a long history. On the surface, it may seem surprising that these two singers could have beef since their music is so different, but Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have actually known each other for years. Here’s a timeline of their interactions over the years and why they could potentially be feuding: In 2015, Swift brought Charli XCX onstage to perform “Boom Clap” together during the 1989 World Tour. In 2018, Charli was an opener for Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour. When asked about her experience, Charli said, “I’m really grateful that [Taylor] asked me on that tour. But as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up on stage and waving to 5-year-olds.” She was used to performing for adult audiences and also went on to say that she was done opening for other artists. Charli XCX released “Sympathy Is a Knife” on her 2024 album Brat. In the song, she sings about feeling insecure around a woman who has connections with her partner’s band. Swift had dated Matty Healy in 2023, so many fans speculated this was about her. Charli went on to dismiss that theory, stating that the song was about her insecurity and anxiety. In August 2024, Swift praised Charli’s musical talents, telling Vulture, “I’ve been blown away by Charli’s melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011…She’s been doing it consistently for over a decade. I love to see hard work like that pay off.” Despite her praise, Swift released “Actually Romantic” in October 2025. She has not explicitly stated that it’s about Charli, though.